Evidence, Cats & Dogs

It’s easy to forget that Evidence has been around since the late 1990s. The Los Angeles based rapper/producer played low-key the last few years. Cats & Dogs is only his second solo album since Dilated Peoples’ unofficial hiatus in ‘07.

If you’ve heard Ev’s previous work, this album won’t pack too many surprises—an that’s a good thing. He’s still spitting a measured slow flow backed by thumping beats and scratched hooks. This might sound like criticism, but salute Evidence for doing what he does well. That one flow keeps pace with churning strings on “Strangers” and matches Roc Marciano and Prodigy over the lurching keys of “Fame.”

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T

???

XXL on crack?

A.C. Says 10%

sm ‘MFn’ h….They Must Be!!!

swype-matic

Don’t even have to read this review to know XXL is straight ass.

http://xxl 40water619

“That one flow…”? WTF? That’s what’s wrong with all these ‘rappers’ these days; switching up their flow waaay too much. It’s good to display versatility but not on one song. Maybe from song to song or album to album show growth or whatever. But now day one songs sounds like 4 diff records lacks cohesiveness. Ev is a throwback… and that is a GOOD thing.

DJ Postman

XXL has fallen off. Back in the day this would have gotten a XL rating. They’re trying to say Evidence’s album is just as good as a Gucci Mane album? Come on! It’s really pathetic that it’s come to this.

KingGhost519

I’m a fan of both Evidence and Phonte. They gave this an “L” and gave Phonte’s album and “XL.” I actually like this album better than Phonte’s. This deserve an “XL.” Get it together XXL.

Burke

This review is lame. The album is less than an hour long, so that’s hardly “runs a little long.” Someone probably told him he had to give it an L so he had to come up with reasons why. “That one flow…” I guess the reviewer didn’t listen to Liner Notes or Well Runs Dry.

Stephen

Should have been an xl. Xxl mag is turning into pop stars magazine.

Alan

I officially discredit XXL as a legit hip hop mag. Fucken joke of a review.

jurassicmarc

The album is fire, just awesome I think its gotta be my album of 2011 and only had it one day, all the singles are sick.
As for Ev’s flow aint broke dont fix it. Rhymesayers have signed a winner here but anyone who got The Platform way back knows this. XL no doubt.

XXL scuks. They always get shit wrong. Cats and Dogs real hip hop album. best i have heard in a while. Easliy better than the carter 4.

blah

next to elmatic this is the best shit that came out in 2011. straight banging, you just need to knod your head when you hear it. pure hip hop.
this review is a fucking joke. honestly, young jeezy and lil wayne get higher rating and thats washed out pop music.
this is some original hip hop, good beats, deep lyrics, plus evidence is one of few artists nowadays that still got cuts and scratches on a lot of songs, i respect him for keeping the good shit alive.

Kayaman

Fuck what you think XXL….you don’t know real shit if it was standing infront of you

Eat it Nigguz!!!

FUCK YOU!!!!!! YOU LAMEASS WACKASS POP GOSSIP “MAGAZINE” HOW CAN YOU CALL YOUR SELF HIP HOP ON A HIGHER LEVEL WHEN YOU DON’T KNOW SHIT ABOUT IT?!!…. EAT SHIT AND DIE MOTHAFUCKAS!!!!! Y’ALL JUST TOOK YOUR STUPIDITY TO ANOTHER LEVEL YOU DICK RIDING BANDWAGONERS!!!!!!!!!

PACER

WTF? Who the hell reviewed this?
This is almost a top 5 album drop of 2011.

The track Red Carpet is banana’s along with You.

The album is on point & only cops a L? Fucking disgusting XXL.

Thrill Murray

This album should be an XXL. It is amazing. Every track is fire. Reviewer needs to stop smoking the Kush and come down to Earth

bill

WHY IS THIS ALBUM SO GOOD

np

Beats : XXL

Lyrics : XL

Originality : XL

Bekalu

XXL YOU ARE THE WORST REVIEWERS EVER. I FUX WIT HIPHOPDX.COM CAUSE THEY GIVE TRUE REVIEWS, NOT STUPID RATINGS LIKE GIVING EVIDENCE AN L! A FUCKING L ARE YOU KIDDING ME!!!!! THIS IS XXL MATERIAL! NOTE HE LEFT TRACK 13 FOR A REASON: “An interesting point about the track list is that there is no track 13. Ev speaks on it: “There is no track 13 on purpose. The first line of To Be Continued starts “10 commandments, 24 hours, the 13th floor was missing from the towers.” The Masons, any buildings built by them leave the 13th floor out. 13 is not just a lucky number, but an unlucky number too. People use it both ways. For me to leave it [the 13th track] blank and then explain why in the first line of the next track [To Be Continued] to me is genius. I don’t think there’s ever been a missing 13th track on an album, ever.”

XXL YALL FUCKIN SUCK

JayFox

Fire Aaron Matthews ….. This Album is fuckin amazing….I can listen to every track without skippin a song…. worst review ever., did he even listen to the album closely smh XXL acting stupid….
this album deserves a XL …

marlon 99

This review is shit out my ass,you guys support bullshit rap, the name of your mag should be xxs size two undies, EV all day raining cats and dogs f#*! your bull shit mag no good for whiping my ass

Keven

Aaron, did you really listen to this album? Your review was janky. Ev reps the West harder than all these other cats. The dude is spittin’ about real life situations, used the power of viral video to market his album independently, and still kept it OG.

XL in my book.

http://Facebook.com/drodeezee Destinee

Wow, this album was straight legit and on point, it deserves way more than a “L” it’s an album straight from the heart… he has truly grown as an artist.

J

wassup with XXL lol… this album of the year… EV up next!

nagrecords

I won’t confess to knowing a lot about hip-hop and rap; however, even though I’m over 30, whiter than Casper and a fan of Bruno Mars and Kylie Minogue, I can tell that this album is brilliant. It’s refreshing to hear an album not full of auto-tuning, and the samples are wicked…. Yes, I said wicked and I’m proud of it.

diglet

I think Ev stepped it up for sure, his flow is the same quality it always is and obviously his flow touches on some real issues, which barely anyone is doing atm. I think the album does deserve an L tho, although there were some deadset bangers at the start (tracks 1-6) which were fucking amazing, it kinda fell off and lost that vibe through the middle until “Where You From”. those tracks 7-11 i couldve done without for sure.

http://Canibuscentral.com Ripthajacker

what the fuck is wrong with you XXL you just showed you are nothing more than money whore sellouts who stab people in the back for paychecks. rating carter 4 higher than cats and dogs. are u stupid as fuck, in the lil wayne review you actually say that he is doing nothing special original or new but say his fans will be happy. SO WHAT lil wayne fans will be pissed so you give him a high rating?

http://www.jaymznavi.com Jaymz Navi

THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN AT LEAST AND “XL” RATING. WHOEVER REVIEWED THE ALBUM NEEDS TO LEARN WHAT IT REALLY MEANS TO BE HIP HOP

Bobbo

XXL is wired on mainstream trash.. This album deserves a way higher rating. XXL does not deserve to review this.. Stick to rating all that bubble gum mainstream garbage.

Yanni

XXL IS FULL OF SHIT. Pathetic idiots

Landroz

This magazine is a RAG… I wouldn’t even use it to wipe my ass. I DON’T KNOW WHO DECIDED on this REVIEW.. Any way XXL is a DISGRACE, & does not understand REAL HIP HOP.

JahMusic

ohhh my lord are you mad?
XXL who did this review, the CEO of BET?
This is a XL album I haven’t bought your mag for a long time unfortunately I ended up on your website. Big mistake of mine, well your review has nothing to do with this album.

This album is a great piece of work the flow the musical arrangements are tight! It is not to long it can last with very little feat. and brings you some grown up hip-hop!

dos2

XXL “Pop music on a higher level” This CD is better than most crap getting XLs